Hala Badri is the Director General of the Culture and Arts Authority in Dubai. Her extensive experience, dedication and professional leadership have enabled her to assume this responsibility after His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, issued a decree appointing her to this position.

Badri has a wealth of experience, knowledge and managerial competence that qualifies her to manage her responsibilities as Director General of Dubai Culture. With her deep understanding of local and international communication models, and her exemplary leadership qualities, she is more than capable of achieving the strategic objectives of the Authority.

Hala Badri has diverse experience in the oil and gas, entrepreneurship, sustainability, communications and media fields. She has also made outstanding achievements across several sectors ranging from supporting the process of transformation of companies through to the creation of brands, the advancement of social responsibility and the strengthening of corporate experiences. She has also played pivotal roles that have contributed to inspiring and motivating women in the UAE to pursue their aspirations and achieve their dreams.

Throughout her inspiring career, Hala Badri has held various important positions including:

  • Senior Advisor to the National Media Council (February 2018 - April 2019)
  • Senior Advisor to the UAE National Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai (February 2018 - April 2019)
  • Senior Advisor for Communication and CSR at ADNOC (July 2017 - April 2019)
  • Executive Vice President, for media and communication at du (January 2006 - April 2017)
  • Director of Corporate Communications, ENOC Group (November 1998 - October 2005).

Badri currently serves on several boards of directors, including:

  • Dubai Future Council on Media
  • International Media Investment Group
  • The Galilee Center for Child Culture
  • Dubai Women’s Establishment
  • Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum International Photography Award (HIPA)

Hala Badri has extensive academic and professional experience through which she contributed to the acceleration of institutional success, and contributed to stimulate economic, social, ethical and sustainable growth. She operates to high efficiency that enables her to achieve outstanding results and for which she has received a wide range of awards and certificates of appreciation, on both a local and international level.

The most important include:

  • Hamdan Bin Rashid Award for Scientific Excellence (twice)
  • Award for the best student at the level of Higher Colleges of Technology
  • Medal of Honor for Social Responsibility in the Middle East 2014
  • Ranked among the top 200 most powerful Arab women in 2014 by Forbes Middle East
  • Best Arab Businesswoman Award at the Women Entrepreneurs Forum 2015
  • Ranked in the 'Holmes Report' list of the top 25 marketing and communication innovators in EMEA.
  • Ranked as one of the top 20 most accomplished women in the Gulf region. As per Brandberperes Magazine
  • Outstanding Executive Directors Award (from the “Private Equity Forum” organized by Amwal magazine in the Middle East and North Africa)
  • Ranked among the top 50 most influential Arab women in the GCC economy by (Amwal Magazine).

Hala Badri holds an Executive Master in E-Business from Zayed University and a Higher Diploma in Communication Technology (Journalism) from the Higher Colleges of Technology. Badri has a passion for public culture, education, development and the acquisition of knowledge and skills, as a result, she received a list of international certificates, and additional courses she joined and completed with honours during her career.

These include:

  • Mohammed Bin Rashid Leadership Development Program
  • The International Directors Program at INSEAD International Business
  • The "Leadership Model" program from the Swiss IMD College
  • UAE Government Leaders Program